Fishing generally good around the state

SANTA FE (KRQE) - Fishing in the lakes and streams of New Mexico runs from excellent to slow around the state, according to the latest report from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

NEW MEXICO FISHING REPORT, Aug. 9, 2011:

This fishing report, provided by the Department of Game and Fish and thefishphone.com, has been generated from the best information available from area officers, anglers, guides and local businesses. Conditions may vary as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.

Northwest

• Animas River - The flow is 417 cfs. The river is fishing fair for trout using various bead-headed nymphs, spinners and worms.
• Chama River - Upper section flow is 30 cfs. Below El Vado, the flow is 598 cfs. The upper Chama in the Sargent Wildlife area has the most consistent good fishing on the Chama as a whole. The stretch flowing downstream of the village of Chama into El Vado reservoir is low and the water temps are high making fishing very slow. The river below El Vado is open within Cooper's El Vado Ranch. Big nymphs dead drifted and finished with a swing or stripping streamers is the way to go there. The stretch below Abiquiu Dam typically won't really fish well until autumn when irrigators aren't calling for water. The river above El Vado was stocked with 753 rainbow trout last week.
• San Juan River - Upper section - Catch and Release flow is 493 cfs Fishing is good but fly choices have become smaller with the lower and clear water. In the mornings, use a red midge larva as your point fly and trail a size 24-26 black or gray midge pupa like a UV flash midge emerger. As the afternoon progresses, change your flies to baetis, such as a gray or chocolate RS2 or foam wing emerger. Small No. 16-18 ants fished along the banks are also bringing up fish. The PMD hatch on the lower river is waning but there are some still around from Simon Canyon downstream.
• Abiquiu Lake – Fishing is slow for all species including walleye with a few smaller-sized fish being caught. Some smallmouth bass have been reported but at best it is hit and miss for them. Catfish are reported as slow but a few bigger fish have been taken in the coves with stink bait and liver.
• El Vado Lake – Fishing is slow due to a lot of recreational traffic on the water.
• Heron Lake – Fishing is fair for trout from the bank and trolling. Most success has been by Willow Creek along the channel into the lake. Power Bait, worms and spinners tipped with corn are working well. Salmon fishing is good when trolling double whammies, Kokanee Killers and Panther Martins tipped with corn and garlic Power Bait in 20 to 30 feet of water. Best fishing is around Rattlesnake Island and on the east side of the main lake.
• Jackson Lake – Trout fishing is reported as fair to good using Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms. Spinners with gold blades are reported working well on the back side of the lake.
• Lake Farmington – Trout fishing is reported as fair to good by the spillway using Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms.
• Morgan Lake – No report.
• Navajo Lake - Salmon are reported as good to excellent using double whammies, Super Dupers and Z-rays in 60 feet of water. Best fishing is from the dam to Francis Canyon. Northern pike are still hitting and reported as good. Try using xr-14 or f-18 lures in the afternoons. Top water gear is working in the mornings. No report on other species.

Northeast

• Cimarron River – The flow below Eagle Nest Dam is 32 cfs and 20 cfs near Cimarron. The release out of Eagle's Nest Dam is a little low for optimum fishing. Look for flows around 30-50 cfs for a better experience.
• Costilla Creek – The flow is 37 cfs near the town of Costilla and 42 cfs at the dam. Last week there was a false reading due to a lightning strike at the reporting gauge.
• Red River - Flows are 17 cfs near Questa and 42 cfs below the hatchery. The area reopened last week and all methods have been catching fish. Best areas are above the hatchery and in the upper stretches. The river was stocked last week with triploid rainbow trout; above Questa with 1,800, Below Questa with 701 and 401 at the hatchery pond. Fawn Lakes was stocked with 699 triploid rainbow trout.
• Rio Grande - Flows are 315 cfs near Cerro and 470 cfs below the Taos Junction Bridge. The best fishing is on the lower Red or the Hondo as the main stem Rio Grande has had some fluctuations in flow and is mucked up. Not much for hatching bugs on the Rio right now. Trout need oxygen and the faster churning water is the place to find those fish. Fish big bugs like golden stonefly nymphs, crane fly larvae, or buggers.
• Rio Hondo – The flow is 18 cfs and fishing is good for trout using dry/dropper rigs with stimulators on top and copper johns or caddis emergers below. The lower river was stocked with 199 triploid rainbow trout last week.
• Rio Pueblo - The flow is 5.9 cfs. The river was stocked with 1,201 triploid rainbow trout last week.
• Cabresto Lake – The lake